The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2016-01-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the costs were of repairing structural defects to the A45 facility at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (Project Phoebe).
Michael Fallon
The cost of Project Phoebe was £20.1 million (excluding VAT).
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2016-01-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to publish the UK’s Future Nuclear Deterrent: 2015 Update to Parliament.
Michael Fallon
A further update will be published this year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2016-01-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) enforcement action was taken and (b) warning letters were issue against the Atomic Weapons Establishment by regulatory authorities in 2014 and 2015; and which of those enforcement actions are ongoing.
Michael Fallon
The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) received a single Improvement Notice from the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) on 8 June 2015. This Improvement Notice remains open; the ONR and the AWE have agreed a set of actions that enable this to be closed by the due date of 30 September 2016.
No regulatory authority has taken enforcement action against the AWE in 2014 and 2015, and no warning letters have been issued.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-01-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the outcome was of the recruitment campaign organised by the Reserve Forces and Cadet Association of Northern Ireland in Summer 2015.
Mr Julian Brazier
The Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Northern Ireland (RFCA NI) is responsible for an ongoing campaign to recruit adult instructors for the Air Training Corps and Army Cadet Force in Northern Ireland. This is a highly effective campaign which has resulted in full staffing. Further details of the activities of RFCA NI can be found at the following address: http://www.reservesandcadetsni.org.uk/
The Ministry of Defence is responsible for recruitment into the Reserve Forces. For information on the numbers of Reserve personnel stationed in Northern Ireland I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 October 2015 to Question 11478 to the hon. Member for East Antrim (Mr Wilson).
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2016-01-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date the decision was made not to proceed with developing a future theatre nuclear weapon (FTNW); and how much had been spent on (a) the vehicle element and (b) the warhead element of the FTNW programme up to that point.
Mr Philip Dunne
On 18 October 1993, the then Secretary of State for Defence informed Parliament (Official Report, column 32): "we have concluded that our previous requirement for a new stand-off nuclear weapon capability is not a sufficiently high priority to justify the procurement of a new nuclear system in the current circumstances. Instead, we will plan, after the WE177 eventually leaves service in the long term, on exploiting the flexibility and capability of the Trident system to provide the vehicle for the delivery of our sub-strategic deterrent."
Also on 19 July 1993 (HC Deb vol 229 cc83-4W), the then Minister for Defence Procurement provided the following information about expenditure to evaluate options for the Future Theatre Nuclear Weapon:
Expenditure to the end of March 1993 on studies of possible vehicles:
|
Year |
£ |
|
1989-90 |
928,518 |
|
1990-91 |
1,372,329 |
|
1991-92 |
1,870,285 |
|
1992-93 |
2,658,471 |
Information on costs incurred on the Future Theatre Nuclear Weapon warhead programme was withheld for reasons of national security. Those reasons no longer apply but this information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-01-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to build facilities to simulate the possibility of the future F35B Lightning II aircraft operating in austere operating bases.
Mr Philip Dunne
The Ministry of Defence is procuring a Lightning II Integrated Training Centre (ITC) at its main operating base at RAF Marham. The ITC will house full mission simulators with the capability of simulating the full range of bases from which the F-35 may be required to operate.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-01-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of the total strength of (a) 6 SCOTS and (b) 7 SCOTS attended (i) more than 50 per cent and (ii) more than 75 per cent of regular duties in each year between 2012 and 2015.
Mr Julian Brazier
This information is not held in the format requested.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-01-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which military assets provide fisheries protection within the UK’s exclusive economic zone.
Penny Mordaunt
The River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels HMS TYNE and HMS SEVERN and the Survey Vessel HMS ECHO currently provide the Royal Navy’s contribution to fishery protection duties within the United Kingdom’s exclusive economic zone.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2016-01-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will direct the armed forces to drop emergency food aid to the under siege town of Madaya in Syria.
Penny Mordaunt
A joint UN/Syrian Arab Red Crescent/International Committee of the Red Cross operation delivered humanitarian assistance, including food, non-food items, and medical supplies, to Madaya on 11 January. With land access available there are no plans for the RAF to deliver humanitarian assistance by air.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-01-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of Royal Navy search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
Penny Mordaunt
The Royal Navy has supported one dedicated Search and Rescue operation in the Mediterranean Sea over the past five years, which was Op WEALD in 2015. This constituted the UK’s contribution to the international efforts in response to the migrant crisis. The additional cost of the Royal Navy support to this operation was £2.58 million, which was funded through the UK Aid Budget.